About the Nechako Watershed Roundtable

• Background
• Origins of the Roundtable
• Roundtable Participants
• Funding Support
• Terms of Reference, Structure, Core Committee
• Contact Us

Background

The Nechako Watershed — a magnificent river system in north-central BC — is facing significant challenges such as wildfire and drought, impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and salvage logging, climate change, and the diversion of water out of the Nechako watershed. Effective stewardship of the Nechako Watershed today is critical to all future generations.

In light of the challenges, there is a need to enhance awareness and collaboration to help ensure the long-term environmental health and wealth of the Nechako watershed, while addressing today’s needs for responsible resource development and resilient communities.

Different organizations have worked, and to continue to work, to improve the health of the Nechako. Most agree that activities could be better coordinated, limited resources pooled more effectively, and decision-makers and the public given more opportunities to become more aware and engaged in the health of the watershed.

Origins of the Roundtable

A dialogue began in 2012 among different bodies within the watershed, which came together informally as the Nechako Watershed Alliance. The intent was to share information and knowledge, explore common interests and brainstorm on actions needed to advance watershed health.

In the spring of 2015, participants decided to form a watershed roundtable that includes representatives of government (Provincial, Local and First Nations), community groups, academic and research communities and the general public.

Guided by a core leadership committee, the Nechako Watershed Roundtable has drafted a Nechako Watershed Strategy (Full Report | Summary) and intends to undertake and advise on water stewardship activities in the Nechako River Basin.

Roundtable Participants

Participants in annual meetings of the Roundtable have included:

• BC Wildfire Service
• Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council
• Cheslatta Carrier Nation
• CIRC - UNBC
• City of Prince George
• Cumulative Impacts Research Consortium, University of Northern BC
• District of Vanderhoof
• District of Fort St. James
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Forest Practices Board
• Fraser Basin Council
• Fraser-Fort George Regional District
• Integrated Watershed Research Group, University of Northern BC
• Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
• Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
• Nadleh Wh'uten
• Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society
• Nechako Valley Sporting Association
• Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Society
• New Gold-Blackwater Project
• Northern Health
• Office of MLA John Rustad
• Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
• Regional District of Fraser Fort George
• Saik’uz First Nation
• School District 91
• Steelhead Society of BC
• Village of Burns Lake

Funding Support

Funding to support the Nechako Watershed Roundtable operations and projects has been generously provided by the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the Fraser Basin Council, the City of Prince George, the Village of Burns Lake, the District of Vanderhoof, the District of Fort St. James, the Village of Fraser Lake, the Fraser-Fort George Regional District Electoral Areas A and C, and the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District Electoral Areas B, C, D, E, F.

This financial support has complemented and leveraged significant in-kind contributions from Core Committee members, partner organizations and Roundtable participants.

Terms of Reference, Structure and Core Committee

The Nechako Watershed Roundtable is a collaborative initiative to protect and improve the health of the Nechako watershed for future generations. The NWR includes representation from BC First Nations, the Province of BC, local governments and other agencies and organizations having responsibilities and interests in the watershed.

To learn more about the Nechako Watershed Roundtable, see the Terms of Reference document, which includes a mission, objectives, guiding principles and structure for the work of the Roundtable and its core committee.

Contact Us